Hook & Thread Society

 Our little hooking group meets twice a month at the local library. Today we had five ladies in attendance. It's not a lot, but it's fun. 

There were three rugs that were part of a hook along sponsored by Saundra Porter of Woodland Junction. You can visit her blog to see all the rugs. There are eleven of us participating. 

The first one is Barb's rug. I love the colors. I see that each of the three of us modified the pattern from the original. Barb inserted a house and added more diamonds to the borders.

This one belongs to Michelle. It's stunning in person. Michelle is new to hooking, less than a year. She's doing fabulous work. Nice loops. 

This is mine. I placed two chickens in the center instead of two hearts. And changed the diamonds in the border to hearts. I took out the red berries and need to rebook something in. Other than that hooking is completed.

Here's a couple more quick snaps.

A Brenda Gervais Christmas angel of mine.

A Santa done by Michelle.

A Santa done by Lauren.

A penny rug, a very large penny rug done by Barb. I love the red 

That's it for today. 

Sue 

Sweet Brothers

 

  

A couple of days ago I took Kip to the library. Our local libraries are really nice. Helpful staff, lots of new books, and great play areas for the kids. Kip picked out his favorite "Thomas the Train" books. Tonight after dinner Mac read to him. I thought it was so very sweet. 

On a sad note Lucy my 16 year old cat has not been feeling so good. I took her to the vet this morning. Kidney failure, and some bad teeth. With her advanced age I chose to have her cross the rainbow bridge. I've cried a lot today. She was a good kitty. 

I will miss you sweet girl. 

Keeping Busy

 Christmas is next week. Wowzers, the year has just flown by. I'm about as ready as I'll get. 

So.. I've been working on my crafts, rug hooking and quilting. 

Up first, my hook along rug. I've modified this to the point it only kind of looks like the original. I changed out the middle and in place of two large hearts I put chickens. The border had large diamond shapes in them. I tried, I hooked twice with various colors and decided I just didn't like the shape so I changed to hearts. Yep, more hearts. But I'm really liking it. 

I'm not sure I'll keep those bright red flowers in the middle. I had some reds in the hit and miss border, but one of my friends said she didn't like the red. I removed it and tried some golden colors. 

The sewing bug bit me this week. It doesn't happen often so when it does I comply. I had started this a couple months ago, but I'm fairly certain I'll complete it this month. I've already pieced the border. 

It's another that I'll donate to Snuggled in Hope, a summer camp for kids with disease/disabilities. This one used a free pattern from Bonnie Hunter. I like scrap quilts and scrappy rugs. 

The weather is changing fast. It's been so cold. Then yesterday it got up in the 40s, today 50s,. Tonight we are to get rain, lots of rain and high winds up to 50 mph. Then a flash freeze, dropping 30' in an hour. Welcome to Ohio weather. 

Stay safe, stay warm. 

Sue

Still Plodding Along

 I'm still here and hooking along on my challenge rug. I pulled this back out after not hooking on it for about three weeks. Several people have already finished theirs, even Lauren. If you're unaware of our challenge it is a two hearts rug hook along initiated by Saundra Porter of Woodland Junction. While mine will not have two big hearts in the center, it does have two smaller hearts. 

I was hooking while sitting of the sofa. I got up to go to make lunch and this happened. 

Not one, not two, but all three of them. 

Lauren and I will be headed to Jacksonville Florida next month for a retreat with Lucille Festa. I need to choose a pattern for class. Hmmm. I'm leaning towards drawing up an antique reproduction that RSM has named Mustard Basket. I have a friend hooking this and it is stunning. Her color choices are beautiful. 

Isn't it lovely? 

Hook Along

 I've been working on my hook along project initiated by Saundra Porter of Woodland Junction. I had to work with squaring up the corners. After that I've been making progress each day.

Somewhere, some how I will add a bit more color as it's looking pretty brown. I decided to change the center as I have recently hooked a two hearts rug. 

See? Too similar to the present project. I thought hard about how to change it. A cabin? Eagle? Chicken? Flowers? Horses? Cats or dogs? The chicken won.

I wanted some cooler weather, but.. not the 40s yet. Not yet. It's time to clean up the yard and gardens. I've got everything trimmed back. I still need to bring in garden decor, picnic table, chairs,  etc. Each year I drag my feet as if to say if I don't do it winter won't arrive yet. Ha. That really doesn't work. I did bring in the plants that I try to save. The geraniums, calla lilies (bulbs), rosemary, and this Thanksgiving cactus who decided to bloom now. I'll take it, last year it didn't bloom at all. This year it has two blooms.

Try to stay warm and cozy.

Sue

New Quilt Finish & a Sneak Peek

 

I finished a quilt that had been in progress for 4-5 years. Yes, years. The center was supposed to be an appliqued eagle, however, my applique skills aren't what I'd like for this quilt. So I decided to make more blocks, but I had no more of that particular fabric line. But I do have fabric. I pulled from my stash and made the extra blocks.

It's even Lucy approved. All the animals seem to like my bed the best. I think I'll use this for fall and maybe for the Christmas season also. 

Lucy is my 16 year old cat that a friend in Georgia gave to me. She's quite a princess of a kitty.

And here's my sneak peek for the hook along. 

The center originally was two hearts. I just did a two hearts rug so I changed mine to have chickens in the center. It's not much, but it's a start. 

Have a swell day on this cold (43') and rainy day.

Sue

Concrete Pumpkins

 Last evening my neighbor said c'mon over and help me make pumpkins. So I did. It was fun, and messy, and definitely not a one person craft project. We developed a rhythm and made all these in about an hour and a half.

We made most of them using panty hose and twine and concrete. I had been collecting hosiery to hook with but then I never did. So what a good use of them. Didn't they turn out so cute? 

Neighbor Sandy wanted sone red ones, I did not. I like just that grey color. 

The ones in the pumpkin molds will be Sandy's because I don't want red. 

And the little white dog is pretty cute too.

I hope you have a great weekend. The hook along has started. I've drawn up my pattern but that's as far as I've gotten. 

Sue

Fall 🍁 is upon us

 

The leaves are starting to 🍂 fall. Not enough to really rake up or have to mow, but enough to rake into a pile and jump into. Mac often spends the night and this day they had fun playing in the leaves.

I enjoy decorating for the season. 

I wanted "blue" or "green" pumpkins. I bought a pack of organic seeds for like $6. I planted them all and got just this one pumpkin. I will save the seeds and hopefully get more next year.

The mum came from the Mennonite community just north of me. This beauty was only $7.50, and it's huge. 

Adding in the fur kids.

This is a picture from the internet. I don't have near enough dollies to do this. 

I have numerous walnut trees in my yard. I mostly just toss the nuts into the field or woods. This year I've saved some. I'll dry them and make garland like Lauren has. 

Have a wonderful Sunday 

Sue

Look Alikes

 

Does this??

Not looking like this??

The bottom picture is of my son some 35 years ago. The top picture is my grandson last week. They look so much alike. 

Just Call Me the Bag Lady

 Does anyone else do this??

Save bags to hold all those darn worms?

But my golly, how many bags does one hooker need? There are all sizes. 

Small

To large.

I saved these in case I need extra large.

Pretty bags,

Bags from the store

And then when it's time to go to rug camp I get brand new clean bags. 

I think I may have a bag problem. LOL.

Sue